Jenny’s Pearls

Five year old Jenny was a pretty blue eyed, blond, angelic looking child.
She was sweet, loving and caring to everyone she met. Her mother and father
were very proud of Jenny’s big heart and giving nature.

One day, Jenny was shopping with her mother. They were passing a glass case when Jenny noticed these beautiful plastic pearls.

“Can I get them Mother?” Jenny asked.

“It is a very pretty pearl necklace but it is expensive. The cost is $2.50.” she calmly told Jenny.

She could see the disappointment Jenny’s face.

Feeling her sadness she said, “If you would like to do chores to pay for the pearl necklace I will get them for you today”.

“Oh, yes,” Jenny said.

“Well, we can make a chore chart when we get home”, her mother told her.

Jenny agreed and her mother purchased the pearl necklace for her.

As soon as the chart was up on the refrigerator, Jenny started to do her chores. A week later was her birthday. Her grandmother gave her one dollar as her gift. Soon, she had paid for the beautiful pearl necklace.

Jenny adored her little pearl necklace. She wore it all the time; except when she showered. She wore it to the store where it had been purchased and everyone admired it. She was smiling each and every time someone commented on its beauty.

Jenny’s daddy loved her very much; as much as Jenny loved her pearl necklace. When it was bedtime he would read her one of her favorite bedtime stories.

One night when he finished the story, he said, “Jenny do you love me?”

“Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.” She said hugging him tightly.

“Well, then, give me your pearls.”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls,” Jenny said. “But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too.” “Okay?”

“No, darling, that’s okay”. Her father said as he brushed her cheek with a kiss. “Good night, little one.”

A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, “Do you love me?”

“Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.” She hugged him tighter than the night before.

“Well, then give me your pearls,” he said.

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls, Jenny said. But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She’s my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it.
You can braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons, if you want, Daddy,” the little girl said to her father.

“No, that’s okay,” her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. “God bless you little one, sweet dreams.”

Several days later, when Jenny’s father came into her room to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was quivering.

When her father asked, “What’s wrong princess?”

Jenny said, “Here, Daddy.” She held out her hand and when she opened it her beloved pearl necklace were inside. She let it slip into her father’s hand.

With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box was a strand of real pearls. They were glistening with shine. He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the plastic ones so he could give her the real ones.

Instead of a story that night, Jenny’s father told her why he had asked her to give him the pretty pearl necklace:

He explained that in life there will be things that she will want to hold onto. These could be things that are harmful or will keep her from having a happy life. It could be a partner, a relationship, a friend, a habit or obsession. These things could bring her danger and could be impossible to let go of. He wanted her to believe that with her own inner strength of love of self she could let go of these things and still be whole.

When something is wounding – let go.  Something more precious could and will come along. She needed to have faith that within her all things were possible. Because, the most important part of who she was could always be found deep inside.

Sometimes, it will be hard to see what’s in the other hand but do believe this; one thing is true they are always working together …..  2017©Isadora DeLaVega

Namaste
I honor the place in you
in which the entire universe dwells.
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, and of Truth,
of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me.
We are One.

~~~~~

Becca @ On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea
hosts Nurturing Thursday
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